Ian Mackman eyes top six results at TT

Current Isle of Man TT Privateer champion Ian Mackman is gunning for the top six at the annual road racing spectacle in June after acquiring the ex-Dan Kneen Kawasaki ZX-10R Superstock machine.

Mackman notched two top ten finishes in 2011, including his best ever result of ninth in the opening Supersport race, on his way to wrapping up the Privateer title.

The Runcorn rider is also targeting a 125mph on the notorious Mountain Course this year.

“The TT is the only race of the season for me now. I carried on racing because I discovered the TT and having taken two top ten finishes last season I hope to better that in 2012,” he said.

“I'd love to finish in the top six and hope that the new bike will help me to achieve this. The new ZX-10 is making much more power than my GSX-R so I hope that this has been a missing ingredient for me. I guess my main aim is to break the 125mph barrier as I've been sitting at 124.5mph for the last three years.”

Mackman will also rely on Kawasaki power in the Supersport races on a ZX-6R and plans to compete at the Scarborough meetings this season.

He has also pencilled in a debut appearance at the Ulster Grand Prix and will contest a full season in the GP1 class at the Thundersport GB Championship meetings.

Looking ahead to the TT, Mackman has identified the Mountain section of the legendary 37.73-mile course as a key area for improvement.

“I believe that my biggest area to improve on is the Mountain. With, hopefully, a good start number again I'll be able to tag on and learn from the top team riders where I can improve here,” he said.

“Oddly I always feel like the run from Ginger Hall to Ramsey is my worst; generally I spend a lot of it swearing at myself for being on the wrong line, but once back in the paddock looking at sector times I'm not that far off. I guess that's how deceptive the TT course can be.”

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You will need to be lapping faster than 125 to be in the top 6 Ian. Dj was doing that 10 years ago on the old course so I don't think a few extra horses is suddenly going to catapult you to the next level.